Veteran paranormal investigator Maureen Keslyn never asked for life to be easy—for her, nothing is more invigorating than hunting down and ending a dangerous paranormal adversary. Fortunately, life at Shadow Valley Manor tends to be a little more...interesting...than the experience at your average retirement community.
Right now, though, even she has to admit that things are getting out of hand. The bizarre murder of one of her elderly residents is only the beginning. How is she supposed to focus on tracking down the killer when there’s a spider loving middle-schooler underfoot? Worse, she’s acquired an unwelcome roommate—an elderly woman with dementia and a penchant for walking through walls.
Maureen is ever resourceful, but the death count keeps rising despite her best efforts and the help of her team. With the life of a child hanging in the balance, Maureen is forced to take extraordinary measures—but will they be enough?
Kerry Schafer (aka Kerry Anne King) is the Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestselling author of thirteen novels. An incorrigible genre hopper, Kerry has written fantasy, paranormal mystery and book club fiction. Known for her lyrical writing and memorable characters, Kerry weaves deep emotional insights, humor, and often a touch of magic into all of her tales. Her most recent writing venture is an amateur sleuth novel, Party Planning Can Be Murder, releasing in March of 2025.
In addition to writing, Kerry co-hosts the One Happy Thing podcast with bestselling authors Jennifer Moorman and Maddie Dawson and runs Author Genie, where she provides virtual assistant services to fellow authors.
Kerry lives in a small town in northeastern Washington with her real-life Viking and a crew of neurotic rescue animals—two dogs and four cats—whose favorite pastime is interrupting her writing.
I'm not leaving him down here, and he's a large and heavy cat who does not choose to be herded. Finally, I set the salt sprayer down to free my hands and scoop him up. He purrs and has the temerity to lick my face, as if I'm holding him because I want to. I do snuggle him for a minute longer than necessary, but not because I'm enjoying his blandishments. I snuggle him only to maintain an effective and polite working relationship.
I am so happy that a four year break in the series didn't result in any drop in momentum - Kerry Schafer has brought Maureen Keslyn back, and if you'd only just picked up the series you'd never know she'd been away.
Maureen is still a delight, and my favourite part of a series that gives me plenty to choose from. Honestly, there's a lot that could change (though I hope it doesn't), and I'd still come back for her combination of older woman, snark, and ruthless competence; especially as we get to see more and more of what I suspect might be a softer side she keeps very well buried.
There's more of an ending to this one, but you will probably need to read at least book 2 to have enough context around the goings on. And it's a minor, very personal, quibble, but I have a real problem with antagonists walking all over the main character and getting away with for the most part; this is far from the only series to do it, but it makes me almost physically uncomfortable. Luckily it's a small part of a much, much, greater whole, and the rest is good enough to easily keep me a fan.
As I was trying to find a way to explain this book to my family, I simply said, “𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘔𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥.”
Maureen Keslyn is an investigator who has worked with the “UNIT”- an agency that deals with dangerous paranormal activity. She also owns and runs Shadow Valley Manor, a senior citizen home. Things get a little strange, well, more strange than usual, when a resident appears to have been murdered.
What makes things more chaotic is the “UNIT” has coerced Maureen back into the fold, but they have required she take on an elderly dementia patient accused of attempted murder. This night couldn’t get much weirder, could it? Oh yes, it could. It seems spiders are scurrying about the Manor, and the Queen is hungry!
I loved Maureen and her quirky team. Maureen is the mature and fearless leader. But she has the help of a teenager who aids dead souls, a cook who has visions, a tween who love spiders, a crow, and oh, an old lady who only speaks in clichés & quotes.
Although 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 is a paranormal mystery, Schafer writes with such sharp humor and wit that it’s so entertaining you might forget about the spiders, well, almost.
Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @kerryschaferbooks for an invitation to the tour and a gifted copy.
Creepy spiders, ghosts, and DNA tampering are only a few of the strange things that happened in “Dead Before Dinner” and make it a captivating read.
What’s nice about this series is how you can read each book as a standalone and enjoy it. This book starts off a bit different from the previous ones in that it feels more like a murder mystery initially without the supernatural elements. Maureen finds one of the residents, Ida Mae, dead, and in the beginning, it doesn’t feel like anything supernatural. However, once the death count starts increasing, the story gets suspenseful as we try to figure out who is behind it.
Similar to the previous books, I enjoyed Maureen and Jake in the lead. Poor Maureen. Many people disagree with her in this book, from Jill to Karin to Mac. We get new characters like Ellen, who adds creepiness to the tale. Jake and Maureen also share a friendly camaraderie, and what I liked about this tale is how they have conflicting thoughts about the suspects. Maureen is fun and snarky as always, and I enjoyed her in this book. Karin is also interesting as another new character, and I loved how creative the author made them. Some of the memorable moments in the tale are when Maureen goes to Ellen’s house to find out more about her or when Maureen learns about the Queen.
Overall, “Dead Before Dinner” is the third book in the “Dead Before Dinner” series and is equally entertaining as the previous two. Even though you can read it as a standalone, I recommend you read the entire series to know the character’s history.
This one ramps up the creep factor! Maureen and her cohorts are up to their eyeballs in this mystery of supernatural proportions. Although you'd expect deaths to happen at a retirement home, you'd hope they were natural and not murders. When the residents start dying under mysterious circumstances Maureen knows it will be up to her and her paranormal investigator skills to get to the bottom of things. This is the third book of the Shadow Valley Manor Series and although it does well as a stand-alone it definitely helped me to have read at least the first book to understand some of the backstory of these entertaining characters. I'm usually not drawn to paranormal themed novels but this series is so engaging and well written it leaves me with a smile on my face when I finish an installment and what can I say, I'm a sucker for a feisty, sixty year old female protagonist. I'm not such a big fan of spiders though and this one has plenty of those which make it creepy but in the end a very enjoyable read. . Thank you to the author and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.
This entire book was such an interesting concept and it’s a third in a series! We meet Maureen whose a former FBI agent and paranormal investigator. She hunts down paranormal enemies , she also happens to be the owner of Shadow Valley Manor Retirement Home. On the outside it’s appears to look like any other retirement home. When the death of one her residents happens and it looks like murder, Maureen knows she’s needs to start to investigate and it’s only the beginning. Soon an elderly woman begins to walk through her walls and to add to it she has dementia, it’s when more deaths begin to happen that Maureen and her team put their heads together,and know they needs to figure who or what is behind it. I truly enjoyed this book, all of the characters had their own personalities and opinions, I had not read the previous books, but I will grabbing the others to get more of the backstory! Four stars!
Men in Black but minus the FBI. Think normal people dealing not with aliens (maybe sometimes) but with paranormal things like ghosts and vampires. Rag tag team that sometimes gets in over their heads with creatures of the night.
Fun characters, some humor, and a lot of spiders (TW). Quite a fun series that I can't wait to catch up with.
Author Kerry Schafer brings us the third book in her Shadow Valley Manor series with Dead Before Dinner. As the book opens we find Maureen in jail for having shot the lead cop in town. But while she's in Charley comes and talks with her about looking after one of her inmates but not in jail. She agrees and is released and headed for the Manor only to find that her key's don't work anymore and she has to break in. As this is going on there is something growing in one of the basements of the manor that they don't know of yet and the woman whom Maureen is supposed to look after is tied to it. Along with her is the rest of her crew whom know of the Unit, the black ops group that she is pressured to rejoin. Bodies start turning up and the new cook is suspect number one but she shifts into a raven. There is more going on on and the ending of the book will leave you wanting more. I highly recommend this book and the others in this series. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series as well as the first two.
Preferred this to book 2, purely because the plot was a little more flushed out, and we got a lot more time with all the characters and worked on their relationships more. I'm hopeful the author is still writing this series even though nothin has been released for a few years. I'm honestly just getting to the point where I feel I truly understand and believe the motivations of our FMC. Plus the work the author put in on both her but also all the other characters in the last two books have paid off and I'm hopeful this wasn't the end of this rag tag groups adventures in Shadow Valley!
Wow! Kerry Schafer is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! This series has an X-Fikes meets Supernatural vibe and I absolutely love it. The characters are relatable with their flaws and fitting personalities. This is the 3rd book in the series and they should be read in order. The only thing that I didn't like about this book is that it ended and the 4th isn't out yet.
I really enjoyed this story in audio form. This series was quite the mystery that definitely kept me intrigued through 3 books. The original book covers or audio book covers were what first drew me to this series. So definitely judging the book by the covers was on point. Great story and characters. Narrator seemed a bit different from the first 2 books but none the less, did a great job with book 3 as well.
I would read one of these every week if she wrote faster. I love the series, and each book just gets better. Smart, well realized characters, great plot, and believable dialog. I'm wanting the next one already.
I loved everything about this book. The age of the characters are fun and authentic and the team building is beautiful. I'd recommend this book to anyone with an appreciation of whimsy and a love of fantasy.
I will be watching for book another book in this series🤞🏻With the world as disturbing as it is, the “A Shadow Valley Manor” takes you on a great light heart, suspenseful and wonderful escape.
The further adventures of Maureen and her oddball collection of paranormal investigators is a pleasure romp through the bizarre. It's definitely not high-brow literature. It's just fun - good, creepy fun - and that's all I ever ask of a story.
When I see the word paranormal in a book, my interest is automatically peaked. Add in the word mystery and I’m intrigued. Bring in sassy dialogue and a strong female lead character and I’m hooked.
Dead Before Dinner also has characters that range from 12 years old to 80 years old and all these characters are full on fantastic.
The main character, 60 year old, Maureen Kelsyn, runs a retirement home, Shadow Valley Manor, that she inherited from her former partner, Phil. But really Maureen works with a team of folks that deal with the supernatural in a variety of forms.
In this book, Maureen and Matt, the chef at Shadow Valley Manor, have recently been released from jail after a little incident with shooting Jake, the local sheriff. The release is contingent on Maureen taking in a woman with dementia who was in jail for attempted murder.
Once back at the Manor, a series of murders take place and it’s up to Maureen and her team to figure out who or what is killing the residents.
There are shape shifters, soul seekers, mediums, future tellers, ghosts, folks with altered DNA, and A LOT of spiders. Some of these people are part of Maureen’s team and some of them are up to no good.
This book is third in the series. I could tell there was a back story from the other books, but the plot for this book was perfectly fine to read first or by itself. I will read the other 2 books probably in descending order. The end gives a glimpse of some future plots and I’m excited to see what next creepy thing Maureen and her team will deal with!
You will enter a world of the paranormal and mystery; entranced by what will happen next. The story “Dead Before Dinner,” will pull you into reading just “one more chapter.” Laughing out loud is guaranteed while you read the blunders of the characters as they try to understand the strange phenomenon's happening in the retirement home.
Maureen continues to oversee the Shadow Valley Manor retirement home. Trouble is brewing within the walls, with murder and mayhem. The residents are nervous, and Maureen is at wits end on how to solve this murder mystery.
This is book three of Kerry Schafers, “Shadow Valley Manor” mystery series. I was hooked after reading the first book; anxious to read books two and three. Kerry brings the paranormal and humor together perfectly. You gotta love it! I recommend reading this series in order to get acquainted to the character's and getting the background of the Shadow Valley Manor. If you are an X-files fan, this series is definitely for you!
~This novel was given to me through a giveaway in exchange for a fair and honest review.~
Former FBI agent and paranormal investigator Maureen is the owner of Shadow Valley Manor Retirement Home, seems like she has a nice thing going until one of the residents at the home dies; you would think it is a retirement community and some residents will die but this death does not look like a natural death, it looks more like a murder.. Maureen is a bit shook and she is trying to figure out how this resident died but a strange thing starts to happen; she starts to see a ghost.. This ghost just walk through the manor and Maureen decides that she needs to bring in her team and get to the bottom of what is happening before another death / murder happens.. I really enjoyed this book, I normally do not read paranormal based books, I find if they are not written well I struggle to fully immerse myself in the story; but Kerry definitely put in research on the subject to make the story flow well and be enjoyable.. I really enjoyed this book and I am going to now have to pick up the other books in the series.
Dead Before Dinner is the third book in the Shadow Valley Manor series. I have read the other two books in the series, but I also believe this could be read as a stand-alone.
This was such a fun, interesting story! I loved Maureen, the main character. She’s got a special set of skills as she was an FBI agent, and now she’s a paranormal investigator. Her investigative skills are needed this time in her own retirement home that she owns. There’s been a murder!
I really enjoyed this book. With the paranormal aspects, it was spooky and quite creepy at times, but there were also fun moments with Maureen as the MC. She’s a pretty awesome lady! I loved how she worked to figure out what was going on, and I think readers that enjoy paranormal mysteries will love this book…and really the whole series!
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
The third installment of Kerry Schafer's fantastic Shadow Valley Manor series, this creepy tale invites you to sit down and have a plateful of shivers.
Maureen Keslyn, the main protagonist, is a feisty woman of about sixty, who has often been embroiled in the supernatural. Things are going from bad to worse in this most recent adventure, and she is not certain who she can trust. Nor is it clear who is predator and who is prey. How much fun it is to follow Maureen and those who surround her as she susses out what is happening the retirement home she runs.
As always the amazing Ms Schafer draws the reader in to a world where the veil is thin, and dread things move.
Gah! I absolutely hate spiders but this book was awesome! Another epic adventure with the chaotic Shadow Valley Manor crew!
Maureen and Matt are in jail and Jill has taken over the manor. Jake is in the hospital and Sophie has been banned from pretty much everywhere. Maureen makes it back to the manor just in time for the strangest death yet and everyone is utterly perplexed. Another curious death and the spiders start showing up... For the love of God, kill all the spiders 🕷🔥 I can't wait for more of these adventures!
Wow! Kerry Schafer is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! This series has an X-Fikes meets Supernatural vibe and I absolutely love it. The characters are relatable with their flaws and fitting personalities. This is the 3rd book in the series and they should be read in order. The only thing that I didn't like about this book is that it ended and the 4th isn't out yet.
This was a good continuation of a series.I enjoyed it. Teri Clark Linden was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.